South Sioux City Professional Fire Fighters

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

Thank you to Senator Wordekemper for fighting for Nebraska's firefighters. Fell one vote short this time, but the fight continues.

Well, this week has been difficult for our members following a fairly emotional past couple months and a tough session at the Nebraska State Legislature. Our cancer presumption bill for fire fighters – LB400, introduced by Senator Dave Wordekemper (pictured – a former Fremont fire fighter) – failed to overcome a filibuster launched by a senator/Bank CEO that claimed our members with cancer are attempting to “bilk” money out of the workman’s comp system.

We’ve shared information about the bill with you before, but simply put, this would have changed presumption for our fire fighters that are diagnosed with cancer from the fire fighter battling cancer to their employer. That’s it – as our profession is directly linked with much higher cancer rates than the general population due to the hazards and carcinogens we’re exposed to regularly, we wanted the burden to show that the cancer is related/not related to the job to shift from the person that suddenly has to battle cancer to the municipality that has their own lawyers.

We worked hard to share all the information, statistics, and insight into our profession with our legislators – the majority of whom understood what this bill would have meant to our fire fighters with cancer – but faced opposition from about 17 senators, falling just one vote.

Here in the Omaha metro area, while we had some great support from many of our local legislators (and THANK YOU to those that supported it!) our bill was ultimately defeated after not receiving a “yes” vote from Senators Bob Andersen, Christy Armendariz, and Rita Sanders.

This bill is too important for us to simply shrug and tell our members fighting cancer to keep asking their coworkers to donate sick leave, keep paying their lawyers, and keep fighting to prove their cancer was the result of their job while fighting cancer to return to that same job where they have a chance to serve. We’ll continue to educate, continue to fight for our members with cancer and their families, and continue to bring this bill, and our members, to the state legislature to advocate for what is right. Thank you to our supporters that called their senators, e-mailed, shared info with friends and neighbors, and helped us get this bill as far as it did….we appreciate you all, and will continue to share ways you can help when this bill comes back in the future!

03/11/2026

What are the pros and cons of a casino in South Sioux City?
Read more >> https://www.ktiv.com/2026/03/10/what-is-economic-benefit-having-casino-south-sioux-city/

03/01/2026

🔥 108 Years Strong 🔥

For 108 years, the has brought fire fighters and emergency medical workers together to improve safety on the job and raise the standard of the profession.

Here’s to the members who came before us – and those carrying it forward today. 🚒💪

02/14/2026

02/13/2026

The members of the South Sioux City Professional Firefighters extend our deepest condolences to the Omaha Professional Fire Fighters and the family of John Olson following his line-of-duty death.

Captain Olson served the citizens of Omaha with courage and dedication. Please join us in keeping his wife, children, and all who loved him in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

It is with profound sadness that the Omaha Professional Fire Fighters announce the line-of-duty death of our Brother, John Olson.
Captain Olson served the citizens of Omaha with courage, dedication, and unwavering commitment to public safety. His loss is deeply felt not only within our department, but throughout the community he so proudly protected.

John leaves behind his loving wife, and their three children. He is also survived by his extended family, numerous friends, and his fire department and union family, all of whom are grieving this unimaginable loss.

Funeral arrangements are currently pending and will be announced as soon as they are finalized.

We ask that you keep the family and all who knew and loved John in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We are grateful for the overwhelming support from our community as we honor the life, service, and sacrifice of our fallen Brother.

Please continue to lift this family up and respect their privacy in the days ahead.

01/22/2026

01/22/2026

🔥🚒 Week 2 of ( ) - Screening & Early Detection

Cancer risk is higher for fire fighters, and navigating screenings and benefits can be complex. This week’s resources focus on prevention, early detection, and understanding the protections that support members and families.

➡️ iaff.org/cancer-awareness-month/ffcam-week2

01/22/2026

A bill before Nebraska lawmakers would provide workers’ compensation benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer without requiring them to prove their cancer came from the job.

01/15/2026

LB 400 is getting some pushback in the Unicameral, please call or email your state senator and ask them to support this legislation! 🙏 The hearing for this will be either Friday or Tuesday. So please contact your senator, ask them to support this legislation and share this post!

01/14/2026

The city's proclamation notes that firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer, and 14% more likely to die of cancer.